A former first-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2007, Okoye had 27 tackles and four sacks for the Chicago Bears last year. On Wednesday, Bears general manager Phil Emery acknowledged Okoye likely would not return to the team.

"Right now, Amobi is trying to decide which direction he is going," Emery said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "We've had conversations with him. So far, we have not been able to work out a deal. Amobi is probably going in a different direction."

The Buccaneers are in search of a defensive tackle after Gerald McCoy was forced to miss all but six games in 2011 with a torn biceps muscle.